Friday, March 14, 2014

Daily Fantasy Basketball: FanDuel Values for March 14th

If you play daily fantasy sports (and who doesn't these days?!), you know that one of the keys to success is uncovering undervalued players to allow you to load up on studs elsewhere.

In case you've never played daily fantasy basketball, every player has a salary and your roster cannot exceed the game's salary-cap maximum.

For FanDuel leagues, rosters consist of nine players and the salary cap is $60,000, which averages to roughly $6,667 per player. To give you an idea of the range for Friday's games, Timberwolves ($11,800) has the contest's highest salary while many are tied for the lowest at the game-minimum salary ($3,500).

There are a number of benefits compared to traditional full-season re-draft leagues, such as:

you don't have to worry about being saddled by players sidelined by injury;

you get the instant gratification of winning your league(s) that night.

And you know that enthusiasm you have after drafting your fantasy team(s)? Well, you get to experience that feeling on a nightly basis with daily fantasy basketball.

OK, with the preliminary stuff out of the way, here are some value plays to consider for Friday (March 14th) FanDuel leagues:

PG - Tony Parker, San Antonio Spurs (vs. LAL), $6,600: Despite the favorable matchup against the Blazers, Parker had a disappointing performance on Wednesday with only 17.3 fantasy points (nine points, five assists, four rebounds and four turnovers). In his previous two games, Parker had 35-plus fantasy points and gets another favorable matchup against the Lakers to redeem himself. Only the Sixers and Cavs have allowed more fantasy points to opposing point guards.

PG - George Hill, Indiana Pacers (at PHI), $4,800: In his past two games, Hill has averaged 16.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game. Tonight, Hill and the Pacers face the Sixers and Hill has a great opportunity to exceed the 29.05 fantasy points he's averaged in those two games.

SG - Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (vs. LAL), $4,800: Even though he played only 18 minutes on Wednesday, Ginobili scored 27.2 fantasy points and he now has at least 24.9 fantasy points in three consecutive games. The Lakers allow more fantasy points to opposing shooting guards than any other team in the league.

SG - Austin Rivers, New Orleans Pelicans (vs. POR), $3,700: Rivers has seen 26-plus minutes in back-to-back games and he has produced with at least 24.9 fantasy points in each game. In those two games, he has avergaed 13.5 points,7.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

SF - Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs (vs. LAL), $6,400: The theme continues as another Spur with a fantasy-friendly matchup vs. the Lakers makes this list. In his eight games since returning from injury, Leonard has scored more than 25 fantasy points in all eight games played. During that stretch, Leonard has averaged 14.63 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.38 steals and 1.5 blocked shots.

SF - Ryan Kelly, Los Angeles Lakers (at SAS), $4,500: Kelly continued his hot streak last night with 28.8 fantasy points against the Thunder. During a three-game stretch, he has averaged 35.5 fantasy points per game. Even though the Spurs are tough against small forwards, he's still worth consideration here due to his modest salary and (recently) immodest production.

SF - Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (vs. CLE): Green has a much more favorable matchup than Kelly as the Cavs have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing small forwards. Green does a bit of everything and he has scored more than 20 fantasy points in five of his past six games.

PF - David West, Indiana Pacers (at PHI), $6,700: At roughly the average cost of a nine-man FanDuel starting lineup, West is an above-average option. Over his past 10 games, West has averaged 31.94 fantasy points per game. The Sixers have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards.

PF - Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors (vs. MEM), $5,200: With Patrick Patterson out, Johnson should be in line for another productive outing at his modest cost. Johnson has scored 36.0 and 37.3 fantasy points in his two most recent games and has averaged 18.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.5 blocks and 2.0 steals per game.

PF - Thomas Robinson, Portland Trail Blazers (at NOP), $4700: With LaMarcus Aldridge (back) out for tonight's game, Robinson should see an increase in minutes against the Pelicans. As we saw with a game last month, Robinson showed his potential for a monster game (14 points, 18 rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes vs. MIN). If Robinson gets 20-plus minutes vs. the Pelicans, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards, Robinson could deliver for DFSers.

PF - Drew Gooden, Washington Wizards (at ORL), $3,500: In his past four games, Gooden has played only 17 to 19 minutes per night, but he has averaged nearly 20 fantasy points (19.83) per game. The Magic have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing power forwards this season.

C - Miles Plumlee, Phoenix Suns (at BOS), $4,100: Plumlee has averaged 26 minutes and 24.65 fantasy points in his past two games. In those two games, he has averaged nearly a double-double (10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds) and a block per game.

C - Henry Sims, Philadelphia 76ers (vs. IND), $3,900: Of course, Sims is not going to give fantasy owners 20 points, 10 boards, three assists, three steals and two blocks every night like he did on Wednesday against the Kings. That said, Sims has played 20-plus minutes in eight consecutive games and has scored at least 20 fantasy points in three of his past five games.